Review: ‘Pin Up Girl’

This is one of those escapist filmusicals which makes no pretenses at ultra-realism, and if you get into the mood fast that it's something to occupy your attention for an hour and a half. It's all very pleasing and pleasant.

This is one of those escapist filmusicals which makes no pretenses at ultra-realism, and if you get into the mood fast that it’s something to occupy your attention for an hour and a half. It’s all very pleasing and pleasant.

Producer William LeBaron, director H. Bruce Humberstone and the cast, scripters, et al. have treated Pin Up Girl in uniform spirit. The Missouri gal who crashes the party of a welcome-to-a-Guadalcanal-hero (John Harvey) in one of New York’s top niteries brooks no plot examination.

Right from the start, when Betty Grable is almost trapped in her gate-crashing she poses as a musicomedy actress, mounts the rostrum pronto and Charlie Spivak picks up the music cue and it all comes out all right. Just like that!

Joe E. Brown as the cafe prop and Martha Raye as his jealous star carry the low comedy against which are backgrounded expert hoofology by the Condos Bros, Spivak’s stuff, rollerskating routines and the military finale.

In Technicolor Grable is a looker in pastel shades and spades. The costumes of the spec numbers have likewise been contrived for ultra-sartorial resplendence. All combined it makes for merry movie moments.